Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Bertone Mantide owner eyeing Corvette ZR1 Nürburgring record run?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/08/bertone-mantide-owner-eyeing-corvette-zr1s-nurburgring-record-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/08/bertone-mantide-owner-eyeing-corvette-zr1s-nurburgring-record-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/08/bertone-mantide-owner-eyeing-corvette-zr1s-nurburgring-record-r/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Bertone Mantide - Click above for high-res image gallery

Some coachbuilt custom supercars are all show. But the owner of a Bertone Mantide is eager to prove that his has got the go to back up his show. Dan Watkins, the British gentleman-racer who bought the first Mantide, is so eager, in fact, that he's pondering personally financing a run at the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1's Nürburgring lap record. And there's every reason to believe his car could reach that goal.

At 7 minutes, 26.4 seconds, the 2009 ZR1 holds the current lap record for a stock, street-legal, series production automobiles (excluding such track-focused machinery as the Viper ACR and Radical SR8). Nissan has its eyes on the ZR1 and is closing in fast, but as delicate and fragile as it may look, the Mantide arguably stands the best chance of besting the supercharged Vette's time - mostly because it's based on the ZR1. Only it's 80kg (176 pounds) lighter and 30% more aerodynamic, thanks to the improvements made to the body by Jason Castriota and his team at Stile Bertone.

To test the theory, Watkins is mulling renting out the 'Ring for three days, hiring an expert Nordschleife driver, and of course, donating the use of his $2 million supercar. All in pursuit of the ultimate bragging rights. If it happens, well, be watching.


Gallery: Bertone Mantide


[Source: PistonHeads]

Bertone Mantide owner eyeing Corvette ZR1 Nürburgring record run? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bertone Mantide - Click above for high-res image gallery

Perspective is a curious thing. Some look at the Corvette ZR1 and think it's a bargain compared to the exotic European machinery that it's capable of trouncing. Others look at the six-figure price tag and wonder how a Chevy could possibly cost that much. Then comes along Stile Bertone, the restructured coachbuilder now under the creative direction of former Pininfarina designer Jason Castriota, who has re-skinned the ZR1 as the Mantide. As if its radical styling wasn't divisive enough, news of its price tag and production run have now surfaced. One's big, the other small. Guess which one's which. Take your time, we'll wait.

Give up? The Bertone Mantide will sell for $2 million, but with that kind of sticker price it won't sell many: Castriota says they've already received between three and five (let's call it four) firm orders for the exclusive supercar, and they'll produce a maximum of ten examples. Think the Mantide and its exclusivity is worth a nearly 2,000% mark-up over the $103k "stock" ZR1? Express yourself in the comments below, and check out the updated gallery of high-resolution images below if you need help making up your mind.


Gallery: Bertone Mantide


[Source: NYTimes Wheels]

Exclusive by Design: Bertone Mantide priced at $2M, only 10 will be made originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 May 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stile Bertone Mantide - Click above for high-res gallery

For fans of Italian automotive design, it's been a deliciously torturous process to watch the slow, webisode-by-webisode reveal of Stile Bertone's highly anticipated Project M, but we've just about made it to the end. After revealing the car's underpinnings as those of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and revealing its name ("I always thought M was a randomly assigned initial, I had no idea it stood for...") Mantide, the latest installment has just hit the intertubes to reveal the concept supercar in all its glory.

The finished Mantide cuts an intriguingly aggressive shape, and you can immediately identify that it's been styled by the same hand as the one responsible for various Ferraris of late. Follow the jump to watch the video for yourself, click on these thumbnails to see the first batch of official photos, and drop by our comments section below to share your thoughts. Shout-out to Patrick for the tip!


Gallery: Bertone Mantide

Continue reading Bertone Project M episode VII reveals ZR1-based Mantide in all its glory [w/VIDEO]

Bertone Project M episode VII reveals ZR1-based Mantide in all its glory [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bertonebertone mantidebertone project mBertoneMantideBertoneProjectMCastriotaproject mProjectMstile bertonestile bertone mantidestile bertone project mStileBertoneStileBertoneMantideStileBertoneProjectMMon, 20 Apr 2009 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Corvette ZR1-based Mantide coming from Stile Bertone this week]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/corvette-zr1-based-mantide-coming-from-stile-bertone-this-week/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/corvette-zr1-based-mantide-coming-from-stile-bertone-this-week/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/corvette-zr1-based-mantide-coming-from-stile-bertone-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Now that episode six of the KineticFin-produced mini-documentary has revealed that Project M is based on the Corvette ZR1, we finally have a name for Jason Castriota's newest endeavor. The Mantide, due to debut at the Shanghai Motor Show this weekend, features custom coachwork that appears both angular and organic, and seeks to rekindle Stile Bertone's place in the world of bespoke automotive design. Expect all the details on the concept to be revealed later this week, with the running version set to debut in Italy on April 23.

Corvette ZR1-based Mantide coming from Stile Bertone this week originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad farrellBradFarrellinside project mInsideProjectMjason castriotaJasonCastriotakinetic finKineticFinmantideproject mProjectMstile bertonestile bertone mantideStileBertoneStileBertoneMantideTue, 14 Apr 2009 19:01:00 EST